COLUMBUS. 



A DRAMA. 



COLUMBUS. 



A DRAMA. 




JOHN A. COPELAND, 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., U. S. A. 



s 



h v 






Copyrighted, 1890, 
By JOHN A. COPELAND. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y.: 

St. John & Spinning, Printers. 

1890 



TMP92-008924 



DEDICATION 



To all Christian Nations, 

who are interested 

IN THE COMING WORLD'S CENTENNIAL 

IN HONOR 

Of that Great Providential Man, 
COLUMBUS ; 

and who respond 

To the Holy Ambition 

That led him throughout his remarkable career 

To Deliver Jerusalem, 

And Overthrow Islam, 

The Arch Enemy of Christianity ; 

This Drama is Dedicated 

By its Author. 



COLUMBUS. 



A DRAMA. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS. 

umbus. 

%o and Fernando^ his sons. 

Bartholomew, his brother. 

Isabella, Queen of Castile. 

Ferdinand^ King <>f Leon. 

Boabdil, Last King of the Moors. 

Carlos, grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand. 

Prince and Princesses of the Royal Family. 

Bishop, Professor, Chancellor. 

Pinzon. 

Boabdilla, [nquisitor. 

Donajuana, Queen's waiting maid 

Santangel, Lord of Treasury. 

Court Fool, Captain, Mate, Sailors, Pilot, Messengers, Citi- 
zens, Ladies of the Court, Soldiers, Knights, Indians, Nuns, Wid- 
ows, Orphans, Attendants, Color-Bearers, &c. 

ACT I.— SCENE I. 
The Alhambra, Grenada. 

[Enter Boabdil and attendant Moors. Music and lam- 
entation.] 
Bo. O my Grenada ! and must we leave thee ! 
Our fathers' seven centuries sweet abode ; 
City of the pomegranate and palm ; 
Of gardens gay, filled with all dear delights, 
Flowers, music of fountains, birds, and lutes; 



2 COLUMBUS. 

Alas! alas! Woe! woe is me! 

Chorus of Moors — Bismallah ! Bismallah ! 
Bo. lovely Zenil, softly flowing stream. 
Through verdant vegas, like a silvery gleam ! 
( ) proud Sierras, calmly looking down 
With crowns of snow, out of these summer sk 
How can your waters in the sunbeams play. 
How can your forests and your r ep still* 

When we your children into exile g< 
Allah and nature, no more hear our prayi 
Unlucky me ! woe is me ! ( > v 

Cho.— Bismallah ! Bismallah! 
Bo. No more for me the tambours sound aloud. 
Calling my knights to field or tournament! 
No kingly guerdon have I Led I 
To valor's meed for skill or suflfei 
No mor t defender of the Faithful, I 

Cho. -Bismallah ! Bismallah! 
Bo. With me, the moons of faith do sickly wane, 
And the green turbans leave the hill in ! 

( 'ho. — Bismallah ! Bismallah ! 
Bo. From towers that once muezzins called topi 
Alas! Behold! the cross is shining th< 

Cho.— Bismallah ! Bismallah ! 
Bo. In me is [slam dealt a deadly blou . 
1 ler sword, my sword is broken ! V 

Cho. — Bismallah ! Bismallah ! 
Bo. Alhambra! ( > my palace, and my throne! 
A boon ! ,i boon ! I ask, deny me not ! 
Alhambra, I >. my earthly Paradi 
Before thou cast me out a wanderer, 
( ). let me kiss thy earth, my mother earth ! 

[Falls and kisses the earth.] 
Sweet, sweet Alhambra. tare thee well, farewell! 
O! O! O! 0! WW is me, Alhambra! 

Cho. — Bismallah ! Bismallah! [Exeunt. 



COLUMBUS. 3 

SCENE II. 

Alhambra — Hall of Justice. 

[Isabella and attendants.] 

Is. Hark! I seemed to hear the Moor's loud wailing, 
Like the lost angels falling down from heaven ! 
I could let pity blot out memory ; 
Rut when God's judgments cry out, let men hear ! 
Upon the sword Mahound pillows his head ; 
Bloody men are teachers of his Koran! 
Its missionary is its scimiter! 
Thus Ishmael stormed Spain's Israel ! 
He Hies to-day before God's flaming sword! 
And so is fulfilled the Holy Scriptures, 
That they who take the sword the sword shall slay ! 
My woman's soul abhors the harem creed, 
Which dethrones, enslaves, imbrutes our sex! 
And will the Spanish women e'er forget 
That lasting shame, "The Maiden Tribute," 
When gentle Castile, my own Castile, 
Under the iron heel, a hundred maids 
Were torn each year from her bleeding bosom, 
To become mothers to her Moorish foes ? 
Thank God! that curse and insult has gone by ! 
Rut no peace will come to the tribes of earth 
While Islam lives to lust, enslave and slay! 
From Europe, India and Africa, 
Back to her desert lair Arabia, 
Must she be driven, and die upon the tomb 
( )f her false prophet, of a bloody creed, 
Polygamy, and slavery, and war! 

1st Lady. Look ! the cross comes out on yonder tower ! 

2d L. I see the lions of Castile's banners ! 

jd L. Hark to the battle-cry, Santiago ! 

Is. Ferdinand, the king, my Lord is coming ! 



4 I OLUMl 

(Drums, shoutings of St. [ago! St. [ago! Castile! ( 

tile!) 
[Enter Ferdinand, with knights, bishop, chancellor, pro- 
fess* T. &C.] 

Ferd. For you, my queen, 

These palaces were built, and filled with spoils 
Fn >m Egypt ! 

Is. Thou hast been our Joshua, 
And driven out Spain's ancient enemi 
The Cid's mantle has fallen upon th< 

Ferd. But for your zeal, our arms had surely failed' 
You \li\, and ch'thed, and cheered us in the field. 
Our sick and wounded, in ymir hospitals, 
You nursed, and gentle Castile sister hands. 
Like ministering angels soothed our pains 
The picture of your presence in our camp, 
Looking down from the galleries of time, 
Shall shine out anion- the world's heroines! 

Is. My Lord, let us be seated on these throi 
And ask our knights what news the>- bring to-day. 

Ferd. Speak out. brave hearts, we gladly give you ear. 

Santangel. My king and queen, Spain cannot halt her 
march 
And grow enfeebled by Grenada's charms! 
A stranger in our camp, a < . 
Points to the sea, as Spaii I open door, 

And feign would spread before you all his plans. 

l-\r,{. What! the white-haired sailor, 
Claiming to have great knowledge of the 
Following our court, lo these- man}- year 

Santangel. The same, my Lord, 

Is. I, to,), have heard of this man's voyages on the 
strange seas! 
And leading with him his motherless boy, 
lias sought tor years, in vain, our audien 
Something instinctive draws me to this soul, 



COLUMBUS. 5 

To hear what daring emprise he would broach. 
Let us celebrate our great victory 
By listening to this stranger's embassy, 
Which, God wot, may lead to Spanish glory! 

Ferd. Be it so. I do here appoint 
Our good lord bishop to hold commission 
Of learned men from our courts and colleges, 
Who shall hear, and weigh this stranger's story, 
fudging for us its reasonableness, 
With the power to approve or disapprove. 

Is. Here in this Hall of Justice 
Let us now chant our grateful Te Deum, 
Giving our God the glory of this day ! 

(Music and Te 1 )eum chanted by all, kneeling.) 

SCENE III. 
Council Chamber in the Alhambra. 

[Meeting of Commission — Bishop, Professor, Chancel- 
lor and attendants.] 

Bisk. At the command of our gracious sovereigns, 
We who represent the combined wisdom 
( )f the church, the courts and schools of Spain, 
Are met to listen to this Genoese, 
Who has the boldness to challenge hearing 
For his most audacious, impious scheme ! 

Chan. I am prepared to sift his testimony, 
And to impeach and quash his hair-brained suit ; 
He is the plaintiff, and attacks old laws, 
Which our courts must maintain infallible! 

Prof. If, in his propositions, he departs 
One jot or tittle from the ancient rules, 
Our text books give for all authority 
To answer questions in the sciences, 
Our professional pride must silence him! 

Bisk. Good! the jury is agreed beforehand! 



6 COLUMBUS. 

Ha! Ha! Now that <>ur minds are set at ease, 
Let us enjoy ourselves. Bring <>n the wine ! 
Zounds! this salt-sea sailor makes me thirst)- ! 
[Enter Columbus and little boy Diego.] 

Bisk. Here comes this dreamer, and the farce begins! 
Attendants, give this stranger welcome here! 
Columbus, be seated at <>ur table! 

Col. I pray you, let me stand, my lords, and speak ! 
My little boy can help me hold my charts, 
Which will my message best explain t<> you ! 

Bisk. Proceed! but first tell us, 
What faith has led you on this strange attempt! 
Wh.it in the past of your experience 
Gives you boldness to come before the thrones 
Of these kingdoms, and audience demand ? 

Col. My Lords, 
From fourteen years I the sea have follow 
Wherever ship has -.ailed, there haw I been ! 
Under the Southern Cross, and Midnight Sun. 
On the waves of the great Western < Icean, 
Which has been both my temple, and my school ! 
I have talked with pilots . »f c\rrv flag, 
Questioned all voyagers, and read the works 
Of travelers, Mandeville and Polo, 
To find a path to the golden Indus, 
And famous Candahar of the Great Khan. 
Mohammed's cursed sway shuts up the East ! 
The West, alone, presents an open door! 
And 1 am here to urge Spain enter it. 
By granting me the aid of ships and nun. 
And so increase her empire, and her wealth. 
Prof. How can the West lead to the Ea 

Col. Look to this chart, which my own hand has 
made. 
See how our Eastern world, in farthest [nde, 
Upon the -lobe, reaches our Western 



COLUMBUS. 7 

And sailing this, we land upon her shores ! 

Bish. Impious thought ! when holy church has taught, 
And also Holy Writ, the earth is flat ! 
Showing to us its corners and its ends. 
My lords, I fear this is an infidel ! 

Prof. Salamanca college, and all the schools 
Of Christendom, call this a heresy ! 

Col. Nay, hay ! my lords, call me no heretic, 
For to the honor of our Holy Faith, 
I have been led in all my zeal and toils. 
On all my journeyings, this Holy Book 
Has been my chart, my compass, guide and friend. 
And in its prophecies I read and see 
The very things I've spoken in your ears! 

Bish. Humph ! only another proof that priests 
Alone should read and interpret Holy Writ. 
For laymen to their own ruin wrest it. 

Chan. What covenant do you require, 
And what means, to embark you on this quest, 
From our sovereigns ? 

Col. I ask the aid of Leon and Castile 
To equip me in their authority, 
In manner suitable to the affair; 
So I may be pathfinder to the West ; 
Also vice-royal of the lands I reach, 
And their High Admiral on the high seas, 
With my due share of all the revenues ! 

Bish. Ha ! Ha ! another Prester John, indeed ! 
Vice-royal Genoese ! A glass ! a glass ! 
[Holds out a glass.] 

Col. Pardon me ! 
My Lords, for the vow of the " Sacred Thirst " 
I've taken, and the words of Christ, our Lord, 
" I'll drink no more of the fruit of the vine 
Till I drink it with you in my kingdom !" 
The wine refusing in his deathly thirst, 



8 CO! UMBUS. 

Are in my heart. And how shall Islam fall 
Until Christ's people can this virtue match 
Of the false Prophet, and abstain from wine. 
That mortal sin, which in perdition drowns? 
In so doing, I pray, "Thy kingdom come." 

Bish. Enough! and do you preach to n^ 

Col. Let us go, my child; we must app< 
From Castile drunk, to Castile sober. 
Spain's ear is deaf! To France's court we'll go. 

int. 

Chan. Lord! what extravagant demands he mat 

Prof. Ye gods and little fishes, what a map! 
And to you, my lord bishop, what a slap! 
Ha! Ha! how run's the gay nun's priests' ditty? 

Bish. " Who loves not woman, wine and s,,' 
I le is a t.x.l, his whole life long." 
And let all the people say Amen ! Amen ! 

Chan. Ha! your vows of poverty, and fasting, 
Would make all men rich, and cure consumption ! 

Bish. Come, let us sign tin's, while we art- ab 
< >ur verdict on this tool's proposal. 

(They sign document.) 
[ Enter court fool. ] 

Bish. As one fool goes, behold another comes! 

Fool. I see tli.it all the fools an- not (Vm\ \ 

Chan. Tell us who wears tin- rap of all the fools. 

Fool. The church, the court, the college fool, these 
thr< 
But of them all, the sacred fool give me. 

Prof . and Chan. Right! Right! sweet fool ! G 1 

Bishop, how's that for your cloth ? 

Bisli. What sport have you found in Grenada, fool? 

Fool. The Moorish dance — a royal sight for fools. 

Bish. A dance! a dance! how can we see it ? 

Fool. Sit on these- i d, like a Turk. 

As if in a harem, wear these turbans. 



COLUMBUS. 9 

And dark-eyed Houri shall dance before you. 
Hark to the castanets and lute ! They come ! 
[Enter Moorish girls who dance.] 
(The bishop, etc., fill up and fall drunk into one another's 

arms.) 

[Exeunt dancers. 
Fool. Dead drunk ! this flagon ; every drop is gone ! 
And so God's poor thirsty people perish 
While these three fools do drink up all the land. 

(Reads the paper.) 
What's this ? signed and sealed in these dotards' names. 
" To our most worthy sovereigns, King and Queen, 
Ferdinand and Isabella, greeting: 
We, your servants, obeying your commands, 
As fountain-heads of wisdom in these realms, 
Have heard the Genoese adventurer, 
And do judge him as a setter-forth 
Of strange doctrines, both contradictory 
I" Hoi}- Writ, science and common-sense; 
\\\(\ pronounce his plans as visionary, 
And do advise our gracious queen and king 
Against the risk of this undertaking!" 

[Throws paper down.] 
Alas! Alas! my occupation's gone! 
My cap and bells I. give to these three fools! 
Eor having these in church, at court, in school, 
Castile and Leon will not lack a fool ! 

SCENE IV. 
Alhamijra. 
[Queen Isabella and Ladies. Enter Messenger.] 
Mes. My queen, your knights message send 
That Columbus they have overtaken, 
And from the French court have turned back his jour- 
ney, 
And presently will introduce him here. 
2 



IO COLUMBUS. 

Is. This is good news. 
Cany at once my thanks to those good knights, 
And let them see Columbus and his boy 
Suitably arrayed for our presence. [Exit Mes. 

How near this prize came slipping from Castile! 
To you, my ladies, Spain a blessing owes. 
No thanks to our lord bishop's commission, 
Who drove this angel visitor away ! 
Now that the Moor no more threatens our kind, 
And war's alarms give way to pipes oi pea 
My soul is drawn out to my people's nerds. 
It grieves me that our sweet Castilian tongue 
Must be silenced for the dead speech of Rom 
Our Spanish legends, poetry and sol 
Repressed so long, I would have flower out 
In all their native eloquence and 
Our schools look backward, worshipping the dead, 
And shroud themselves in ghostly formulas, 
Walking at night, but blind as bats by day! 
And so they crush the spirit of our youth 
By the dead burdens that they bind on them ! 
I would that every Spanish boy and maid. 
In patriot schools, could read, write mv\ 
In our sweet tongue, God's grace and gifts to Spam. 
The courts, the daughters of the hors^-leech home, 
I)" darken counsel by their red-tape words, 
Devouring wid< ws' houses, orphans' bread; 
A very mockery of all just 
These evil codes our doctors must r< 
And publish in our mother, hearth-stone spee< h 
The church, her Author, and her Sacred Word, 
We all revere, but these shepherds haughty, 
Who sign themselves our spiritual lords, 
Instead of servants, toggled out in gear, 
The fishermen apostles would not know ; 
And whose god is their belly, and their pur- 



COLUMBUS. II 

Who forbid us worship our Creator 

In the tongue he gave our Spanish mothers, 

The mandate of an Italian master; 

Our Castilian faith and pride do challenge ! 

At court, at church, at school, we must stand up 

And answer God, and man, in Spanish phrase, 

Or else the spirit of our birthright quench ! 

[Enter knights and Columbus leading his boy Diego.] 

K. Our gracious queen, we present you 
This noble Genoese, who, on his way 
To France, heeding your earnest words, did halt 
Where the Bridge of Pines crosses the Darro, 
And offers you the service of his life ! 

Is. We welcome you ! First your pardon begging, 
¥or the discourtesy our court gave thee! 
These long years in hearing, it refused thee ! 
And when hearing thee at last, denied thee! 
This was not gentle Castile's charity, 
And you shall see her hospitality ! 
You have friends at court, in these fair ladies, 
Who espouse your cause with woman's ardor. 
And in these knights, who have caught the glow 
Of the romantic spirit of your plans, 
To which I, too, am almost persuaded ; 
But let me hear you, so that not almost, 
But altogether, I persuaded be, 
Upon this Christian voyage to embark ! 

Col. O, fair Queen, your kind words quite unman me ! 
They turn my darkest night to day ! thy smiles 
Blot out the memory of the frowning years! 
With thee, our patron, our success is sure ! 
For this occasion, God has made thee queen, 
As well as Castile's guardian angel ! 
Grant me a fleet, and I will fly thy flag 
On seas no other banner dares to sail ! 
And I will plant it on far India's shore, 



12 COLUMBUS. 

< )r, failing, perish in the great attempt ! 

Is. Our long wars have drained our treasure, 
But for the glory of my own Castile, 
I will accept thy service, and here pledg . 
My own crown jewels, to fit out a fleet, 
And you shall have all due authority 
Upon the seas, and the new continent. 
I orders give that there be no delay. 

[ I lands him a banner.] 
Take Castile's banner from thy own queen's hands, 
Wrought by my fair court and for our honor! 
A happy voyage, and a safe return, 
All Spain will pray, and may God -peed you ! 

> to her. ] 
Come, child, to me! I will your mother be, 
And father, too, if father comes no mi 

Col. Farewell, great-hearted queen ! I this pledge 

Till from the western seas my sail shall conn-. 
Tq give account of all our stewardship. 
Your words shall give me courage in my quest. 
Farewell, my boy! Again, my Queen, farewell ! 



ACT [I.— SCI \l I 
Pai 
[Columbus and Pin/on.] 
Pins. Two -hips, my Lord, Nina and l'inta. 
My brother Martin, and I, can furnish. 
And join our fortunes to your great venture! 

Col. Truly, in the Hush of time your offer comes, 
For the Queen's navy is a sad affair! 
Only one ship — the Santa Maria. 
Could I procure in all the Spanish ports. 
Small as our squadron is, we'll sail at on< 
In the broad porch of your good church — St. George 



COLUMBUS. 1 

The king's orders for our aid have been proclaimed ! 
From your native Palos, can you muster 
Crews enough to fully man our vessels ? 

Pinz. My Lord, 
A great alarm has settled on the town, 
And a panic, quite, has seized her sailors, 
Who are amazed at your expedition, 
To sail into the unknown Western Sea, 
Peopled, and ruled by monsters, they believe. 
No chaplain from the priests can be obtained. 
In public opinion, we are damned. 
No volunteers responded to our call, 
So I the power of your commission took, 
And impressed men, to fill our complement. 
And, my Lord, such a conglomeration 
Of drunkards, paupers, thieves and murderers, 
Was never matched in this world's circus! 

Col. So it has ever been ! the publicans 
And harlots into the kingdom go ; 
The fearful unbelievers shutting out! 
The common people, and poor fishermen 
Followed our Lord, whom the proud crucified ! 
King David, rallied in Adullam's cave 
The outcasts, and outlaws of Israel, 
And they became the bulwarks of his throne! 
So God, who takes the things that are despised, 
Will take our little scorned company, 
And confound the mighty, to His glory! 
Be of good cheer ! We will next meet at sea ! 

[Exit Col. 

Pins. \\ T hat manner of man is this ? 
I never looked upon his like before ! 
I hear my boatswain call upon the street, 
To these quarters marching our forced recruits ! 

[Drums beat. Enter mate with drafted crew driven 
before.] 



14 COLUMBUS. 

Mate. Captain. I have searched 
This God-forsaken town, with hooting mobs 
At our heels, ready to crucify us; 
And nothing but these paupers, and jail-birds, 
Fit food for sharks, can fill our muster mils! 
And led by these two condemned murderers, 
They swear that they will die, and not embark, 
Aboard our rotten hulks, the rats have left : 
Saying, a grave on land, beats on< 

Pine. How's this, you twin bloody-handed scoundrels? 

ist Mur. You bet, the gibbet necktie we prefer, 
Than doomed to the sea-serpents' company! 

Pine. Your face alone, would fright them from our 
wake ! 

2d Mur. Aye! the unconsecrated grave we cho< 
Than feed the kraken and the devil-fish ! 

Pine. Your body's curse would give them the death- 
grip! 

[( rhost enters. ] 

7 st Mur. Judas Priest ! Look! Look! the grave has 

opened ! 

The dead's alive, and points his hand at me! 

2d Mur. Hell ! did we not stab him to the heart, 
And hide his body in the unknown pit? 
Where can we hide from his accusing fa* 

Ghost. Nowhere on land, is there a hiding pla 
The western sea alone I do not haunt! 
Elsewhere, both night and day, I'll shadow you, 
And harrow up your souls with your past guilt. 

Pine. Why do you tremble 
What (\^ you see. that makes your knees to (juai 
Palsies your tongue, and robs you of your strength ? 
In crime, two guilty partners must you be! 

Murs. ( ), lead US hence. 
We'll go! ( ) take us quick, on board your ships! 
The sea is not so dreadful as the land ! 



COLUMBUS. 15 

Pins. Mate, march these men away; 
We'll anchor weigh, and get to sea to-day! 

[Ex. mate and murderers. 
[Fool throws off mask of ghost.] 

Fool. Captain ! 
The queen sends her compliments by her fool, 
Who proves the best pleader in Palos town ! 

Plnz. Yes ! by my soul, good fool, it was well played ! 
I wish you were in our ships' company. 
Out of sight, out of mind, the saying goes, 
And these rogues will forget your lesson soon, 
And trouble us as rebels still at heart. 

Fool. Ship never sailed with such a lousy crew ! 
As your figure-heads, take them, one by one, 
And the sea-dragons right of way grant you! 
Let not, I charge you, these red-nosed beauties 
Have access to your powder magazines! 
Spontaneous combustion from their breath 
Is plenty risk enough for fire at sea! 
I'll tell the queen, how three shiploads of fools 
Sail with Columbus from the ports of Spain! 
And still the\- say, the woods are full of them, 
And the fool-killer reaps his yearly prey ! 

SCENE II. 

Santa Maria at Sea. 

[Columbus on Deck.] 

Col. The sea ! the sea ! 
Far beyond the pillars of Hercules, 
And the pursuit of the wary Portuguese ! 
My soul breathes free ! I am at liberty ! 
Like the sea-bird escaped its cage on land. 
O, winds and waves of my dear mother sea, 
You raise my spirit like deep organ tones 
To worship in your broaoT-aisled cathedral ! 



1 6 COLUMBUS. 

Lord, Thy rij_ 
Thy judgments are a mighty deep, O God ! 
What am I, or my father's house, to Thee. 
That I should stand before the kings of earth ! 
The imaginations of the mighty 
Arc cast down; Thy secret's with the low]}-! 
In my day-dreams, and visions of the night, 
Tin- Spirit for years has overwhelmed me! 
All my wilderness paths hast Thou led <»ut. 
Hitherto hast Thou helped me; help me still! 
Bring me, ( I God, to my desired haven ! 
rhou wh<» can^t make the wrath of man praise Th< 
Quell all the tumult of my -hip'- people! 
Grant me wisdom for each day's surpris< 
The dail) manna of the heavenl) 
In Thy most holy name, I > Christ of God, 
We sail this voyage, dedicate to Th 
I lion vvho dost speak, and winds and waves ob< 
I I rreat Shepherd, of the land and sea, 

A.< ross this ocean's Jordan to our quest, 
And all the tril.es of earth shall call us I,: 
[ Enter mate. In h; 

Mate. My Lord, a great commotion, 
And a great fear has settled on the fl< 
For our most skilled seamen cannot explain 
I he strange phenomenon !' 

Col. I will attend 
The matter. Pipe all hands on d< nee! 

ENE III. 
Santa Maria. 

[Crew on deck.] 

ist Sailor. We are lost at - 
I he compass fails us! we see Spain no more! 
2d Sailor. In our yard-arms, strange sights I've 
at night ! 



COLUMBUS. I / 

Alas ! we sailed without the aid of priest ! 

jd Sailor. Here comes the man, 
Who on this tomfool errand led us out ! 
[Enter Columbus.] 

Col. Flow now, my men ! 
Why are you all cast down in countenance ? 

Pilot. Look ! .See, my Lord, this needle strangely 
turns ! 
No mariner that ever sailed saw this. 
We only drift; our reckoning is lost! 

Col. Not so. We only cross the line 
Of the meridian, which the compass shows ! 
And our latitude, and our longitude, I know, 
All in my log-book, carefully marked down ! 

Pi I. Incline! passing the line ! 
In all nautical phraseology, 
\\ ho ever heard of this meridian ? 

( ol. All the sailor world, 
Good pilot, after this day, shall know it, 
And point to us, and saw Behold the men 
Who first crossed the line ! 

Pil. Be it so, my Lord ! 
I only say we hear strange things to-day! 

Col. Cheer up, my men! The sea, our mother is, 
And on her bosom we can safely rest ! 
She soon will bear us to the looked-for shores ! 
Loose every sail, and boldly push ahead! 

[Hymn — De Profundis, sung by all.] 

SCENE IV. 
Santa Maria. 
[Meeting of Mutineers.] 
i st Mitt. We are sworn and agreed, 
To no more obey this madman's orders ! 
2d Mut. We must rise up 
3 



COLUMB 

And throw him overboard, and tack about 
Our ships, and sail for Spain, before we're lost ! 

3d Mut. Hush! here he comes; 
He gives himself no rest, by night or day! 

Col. Why are you here. 
And not at your posts ' J Speak up, my men ! 

Leader. My Lord, I make bold 
To tell you. in behalf of all your men. 
That they have lost all confidence in you ! 
And demand that you shall at once turn bark 
From your mad search, and seek the ports of Spain! 
[fyou heed not, we act accordingly! 

Col. Believe me, nun. 1 sympathize with you, 
And for your great patience, give you all praise! 
But how >hall we return to our brave queen, 
As cowards, turning our backs to phantoms! 
All Castile would spew us out as traitors! 
Perish the thought ! our honor cannot <; 
Listen! A proposition I mala' you! 
Give me three days, and your obedient hands, 
And. if then, the kind we don't discover, 
I'll pledge my word, to turn about to Spain' 
What say you, men, will you accept my word? 

All. Aye! Aye sir, we will ! we will ! 
And success t<» our I ,ord Admiral ! 

( ol. Thanks ! thanks t<» you ! 
And let this word spread throughout all the fleet, 
That 1 will a rich prize, as guerdon give, 
To high or low, who first points out the land ! 
Good night, my friends, good night ! 

Leader. Ye gods! what a man is this! 
I believe he could bewitch the devil 
With his words! no wonder he charmed our queen ! 
We were rebels only an hour 
And. presto ! he has made us all his frien 
That prize! I swear I'll keep awake for it! 



COLUMBUS. 19 

[Exeunt mutineers and return Columbus.] 

Col. I seem to smell the fragrance of the earth ! 
These birds are all good omens of the land! 

[Enter sailors bringing boughs and wood.] 

1st S. Sec here, my Lord, this branch 
Of tree I found floating in the sea! 

2d S. Look!, see this wood 
Carved by some human hand ! 
My Lord, the land, here, must be close at hand ! 

Col. Hark ! a gun from the Nina ! Can it be, 
That her eyes first the blessed sight shall see ? 

3d S. Tis a false alarm ! 
And yet, 1 swear, we are not far from land ! 

[Exeunt sailors. 

Col. With these stars, all night I'll watch ! 
How they do diadem this new world's brow ! 
This perfumed air, like Indian incense, 
Breathes a new life into my weary soul ! 
The dawn draws on. My soul, what do I see ? 
My Lord ! My God ! and am I first to see 
These shores? Land! Land! let all shout out, Land ! 

Land! 
[Sailors rush in and take up the cry. Guns fired and 
Te Deum sung.] 

Col. Cast anchor ! and get out the boats ! 
Fire a salute from all our squadron's guns ! 
The old world gives its greeting to the new ! 
From every main-mast, hang Spain's colors out! 
Let even- man his best attire put on, 
And to these welcome shores we will pay court! 

SCENE V. 

[Columbus and crew taking possession. Columbus and 
his men falling to the ground and kissing it for joy, 
and setting up standard and cross.] 
Col. In the name of their Catholic Sovereigns, 



20 O 'I ni B - 

King^ Ferdinand, and Isabella, Queen, 

Of Leon, and Castile, I possession 

Take of all these lands, and set up this i! 

In the presence of all these witnes 

As their vicegeral, and high Admiral, 

By right of our discovery of the same, 

To which, none other can claim precedence. 

[Mutineers fall at his feet and beg pardon] 

Leader. ( ), our Lord Admiral ! 
Pardon and forgive us our transgression, 
As rebels against thy authority! 
Let not thy anger kindle against us, 
Although, we richly nil deserve to die, 
For ever jeopardizing this event ! 

[ ( Columbus lifts them up.] 

( ol. Stand up, my men ! I freel; 
Whatever your trespj ainst the State, 

Are all wiped out ! \ 1 men to-day ! 

[Enter Indians bearing gifts, and receiving gifts in 
return. ] 

Col. We here exchange our hospitality. 
We come bringing to you our Christian faith, 
Which has delivered us from fear of death! 
This cross! on which the Son of God did die, 
And so made peace between earth and heaven! 
In v tin the grave held Him; He rose on high, 
And victor reigns o'er sin, death, and the tomb! 
And He will raise us up at the last day ! 
This Book will His great salvation teach you, 

[Holds out Bible.] 
When our Queen, her holy men shall send you 
In the next ships that come sailing from Spain ! 
Some of your chosen people, we unite 
To visit our fair shores, and our fair queen ! 
I see your land is rich in golden store, 
And we will help you bring its treasures forth ! 



COLUMBUS. 2 1 

My captains, and my men, my thanks to you, 
For all your courage, and your suffering ! 
Our flag-ship, the good Santa Maria, 
Must, as unseaworthy, be abandoned. 
We will dismantle her, and make quarters 
To house the small garrison, from the wreck 
We leave. In the swift Nina, and Pinta, 
We will sail homeward to the shores of Spain, 
Carrying the first trophies of these lands, 
To gladden the hearts of our king and queen, 
And then return in gallant company ! 



ACT III.— SCENE I. 
Street in Barcelona. 

[Citizens.] 



ist Lit. Have you heard the news, 
That causes commotion in our city? 
Filling the streets and roofs and balconies 
With gaping crowds ? 

2d Lit. Yes! a strange cavalcade 
Draws near our southern gate! 

jd Lit. They say that they have come 
Across the unknown sea from India, 
Where bravely they unfurled the flag of Spain ! 

_//// Cit. The king's post, who saw them, 
Tells the people of half-dressed savages, 
Rare beasts, and birds, and wonders, rich and strange ! 
And all the cities pour out to see them, 
Deserting market, theater, and church ! 

jth Cit. The King, and Queen, 
Hold open court, in their great palaces, 
To give reception to this Columbus ; 
To hear the story of his adventure, 
And see the tokens of his great voyage ! 



22 COLUMBUS. 

6th Cit. Let's to the palace gates, 
Whither the crowds are rushing, while we may ! 
Barcelona ne'er had such holiday! 

SCENE II. 
Palace — Barcelona. 

[Ferdinand, Isabella, Royal Family and Court.] 

Ft rd. My Queen, our sun, 

By this Genoese rival, is eclipsed ! 

Like Antony, left whistling to the winds, 

When Cleopatra's silken sails were seen ! 

So all Spain pours out, to our ignoring, 

To gaze upon this victor of the sea, 

Returning in triumph with his strange spoils! 
Is. Not so, my Lord. 

He only adds glory to our kingdoms! 

Let no envy mar this joyous meetin 

This is the beginning of Spain's empire, 

And you are counted happiest of kin 

[Trumpets sound, and Columbus, with his sons, Di< 
and Fernando, captains, Indians and attendants, bear- 
ing birds, plants, etc., enter. The kin- and queen 
rise and receive him, seating him near them.] 
Fcrd. Columbus, we welcome y<>u ! 

Spain has given yon one grand ovation, 

From Palos, to our ow n Barcelona ! 

We greet you, in our kingly palai 

The Queen, and Princess, Royal Family, 

I rave come t( • see y< >ur face, and hear y< >ur \ « >ice ! 
Is. Our eyes are gladdened to behold 

( me, whom all nun buried in the ocean ! 

Not for one day, has our own faith wavered 

In thee, or the success of thy mission ! 

Thou, a stranger in our gates, hast brought us 

Greater glory than any son of Spain ! 

An angel unawares, we entertained. 



COLUMBUS. 2 3 

And thou dost leave us an angel's blessing ! 
Thou, the greatest actor on the world's stage, 
Lifting the curtain from the land and sea, 
All Europe, with applause, to thy name rings ! 
But thou dost give us the first benefit 
Of thy appearance. Let us hear thee speak. 
Of thy quest, greater than the Golden Fleece ; 
Remembered, when the fable is forgot ! 

Col. My King, and Queen, 
Great joy it gives me, glad tidings to bring ! 
( >f all our number, not a man was lost. 
Our flag-ship, the good Santa Maria, 
From her last voyage, comes not home again ; 
But on land, a garrison, is she still, 
And keeps possession, in the name of Spain, 
Holding the keys of the new lands and seas! 
Only the fringe of the new continent 
Have we. touched yet; but we have glimpses caught 
( )f its vast extent, and great resources. 
Look at these gold and silver ornaments, 
And copper, tokens of its wealthy mines ! 
These plants and flowers, and these fruits and grains, 
Prove its fair climate, and its fertile soil ! 
With game, and fish, its woods and streams abound, 
So they are called the Happy Hunting Ground! 
Behold these simple children of the West ! 
They look upon the white man with amaze ; 
Our dress, our ships, our arms, and all our acts ! 
Mahomet's blighting curse is here unknown. 
These nations may be baptized in a day ! 
Here Spain can plant her language, and the cross, 
And o'er this new world her genius spread ! 
I promised the brave men, we left behind, 
A speedy return, to reinforce them, 
And push discovery, and possession, 
With greater fleet, and larger colony ; 



24 COLUMBUS. 

And if with you, I have acceptance found. 

I pray you, my new expedition haste. 

And let me serve you on a grander scale ! 
Ferd. It shall be granted ! 

Hut thou, who hitherto hast a stranger been. 

Counted an alien to our commonwealth, 

Toga of Spain's citizenship shalt wear; 

Don Christopher. I do here pronounce tr 

[Throws a mantle over his shoulders.] 

With rights extending to thy family. 

And ratify the covenant with th 

That vice royal made thee, and High Admiral. 

\\ ith all due revenue, and revere 

A. Columbus, with this sword, I knight th. 
[ Strikes him w ith SM 

Like the ('id's sword, tin Firebrand, Tizona, 

Against all God's enemies may it be ! 

I charge you, our new subjects kindly tr< 

To hrmg them all into our blessed faith ! 

And let no injustice overtake them ; 

For I do fear our Spanish selfishness, 
( >iir cruel thirst for base, unholy gold. 

1 hat savor of death, to death, forever ! 

Your two -,, )n ., i >iego and Fernando, 

Shall be pages to our royal person, 

And s ( , your good presence shall seem with us, 

E'en when the wide oceans roll between us! 

My sovereigns, your honors overwhelm me 
Henceforth my life I dedicate to Spam.' 
My gracious Queen, this Admiral's sword I ta 
And it ( ;,„! do pros] HI - nu - m the way, 
Against no brother Christian being drawn, 
Hut from my viceroy revenue alone, 
I will a Christian armament equip. 
Five thousand horse, and fifty thousand men. 
Deliver Jerusalem from the Turk, 



COLUMBUS. 2 5 

The Holy Land, and Holy Sepulchre ! 

[The Te Deum is sung by all.] 

SCENE III. 
Palos. 

[Columbus and Bartholomew, his brother.] 

Bart. My Lord, our office is besieged 
With volunteers. All Spain wants to embark! 
Soldiers and sailors and priests and scholars, 
From every city, in the two kingdoms, 
.Arc fired with the spirit of adventure, 
And dreams of the western El Dorado. 
Swaggering bravados, and perfumed fops, 
Are on our lists; what can we make of them? 
This sudden popularity I fear. 
And bodes no good to our expedition! 

Col. I, too, am troubled over this, my brother; 
But we are in God's hands, and not our own! 
The outcome of this voyage, no man knows! 
God knows, and that's enough for us to know! 
The work of embarkation, let us haste. 

[Exit Columbus. 

Bart. I'll match my brother against Mahomet 
In complete resignation to God's will ! [Enter fool. 

Bart. How now, good fool, 
Why have you left the queen, your mistress? 
Is Palos better than Barcelona ? 

Fool. Yes ! a better place for fools ! 
Are not fools human, and love company? 

Bart. By Heaven, you're right! 
For here come the two most excellent fools ; 
All prinked and pranked out for easy plucking ; 
Who want to sail to our Fools' Paradise ! 
To their entertainment, I will leave you. [Exit Bart. 
[Enter Bravado and Dude.] 
4 



26 COLUMBUS. 

Bravo. Blood and thunder! 
I'm dying to fight those red pagans; 
With this sword, I will wade knee-deep in blood! 

Dude. Some fair princes 
Of your captives, with my charms I'll capture! 
With lullabies shall she fan me to sleep; 
Wash my apparel, comb and oil my locks, 
With perfumes from the western Araby! 

Bravo. What! fool ! 
And dost thou make grimaces at us? 
What dost thou know about these red heathen ? 

Fool. Most gallant sir. 
They say their war-whoop is most terrible! 

Bravo. Let them whoop, and whoop ! 
By the great horned spook, I will silence them ! 

Dude. Tell me, dear fool, 
Will they not he good slaves t<> gentlemen, 
And minister to us, in wild delight ? 

Fool. Yes! sweet sir, 
If the music of their scalp-dance suits you! 

[War-wh< >op heard.] 
Bravo. What unearthly sound is that? 

Dude. ( ), my ! ( ). my ! it chills me ! 

Fool. I'll go; those red devils have got 1"" 

[Exit fool. Muter Indians.] 
Bravo. Mercy! Mercy! Great God haVe men 
Dude. Holy Angels, help ! help! I faint! I swoon! 
[They both fall, and Indians have a scalp dance 
them. Columbus enters. The Indians obey hin 
and follow him out. Fool comes in, lifts up Bravo 
putting a nursing-bottle in his mouth, and a smelling 
bottle to nose of Dude. Curtain drops.] 



COLUMBUS. 27 

SCENE IV. 

San Salvador, West Indies. 

[Columbus alone.] 
Col. The Indies I sought 
Still keep in hiding ; God's face is hidden ! 
The clouds are .rising; my tide is turning, 
And I must penance do for all my pride. 
In my absence, all things go to ruin. 
Rebellious leaders in the colony, 
Spurn my authority, and seek their own ; 
Both civil war and Indian outbreaks 
Have arisen. Our good name is involved 
In dire outrages upon the natives, 
Exterminating and enslaving them. 
O, bloody men, ye are too hard for me ! 

my God, to my charge, lay not their sins ! 

[Enter messengers.] 

1st Mess. My Lord, Isabella 
Is abandoned, and the colony is scattered, 
And I am sent to tell thee ! 

2d Mess, (an Indian). My Father, 
My people all are slain by thy 
White men, and I only, am left alone, 
To tell thee ! 

3d Mess. My Lord, 

1 bring news from Spain, that our 
Queen is incensed against thee 
By the poor slaves your ships 
Have brought home ! 

Col. Old and gray-headed, Lord, forsake me not ! 
[Enter Bartholomew.] 
O, Bartholomew, my elder brother, 
Thou hast been my stay in every time of need. 
Brave sailor, and still more gallant soldier ! 
Faithful among the faithless, hast thou proved ! 



28 COLUMBUS. 

I must answer my enemies in Spain, 

And you the rebels in this colony ! 

I do you here, my governor appoint; 

Rule with strong hand, but with a gentle heart! 

God, who has led me, lie. will lead me still. 

I'll sail at once, and t<> my queen repair! 

Bar. Farewell, my brother! 
My soul is knit to thine, and may God grant 
You grace, with our good queen ; again farewell ! 

SCENE V. 

1'xi ,, — ( ,,\\ ]\ i of San i \ Clara. 

[Columbus at prayer, dressed as Franciscan. Entei 
Nuns. ] 

rst Nun. Who is this stranger in our silent aisli 
Doing penance in our Franci trb ? 

All night his ceaseless vigils he has kept! 

2d Nun. Methinks he 1» 
The lo..ks and carriage of one high in rank ! 
His worship marks him as a priest, and king. 

jd Nun. If I mistake not, 
His white streaming locks, and seafaring 
Mark him the Genoese, Spain's High Admiral; 
I marvel what great sorrow drives him here! 
Listen! he makes earnest .supplication ! 

Col. I remember my faults, ( ) Lord, this dav, 
In forgetting thee, and the VOWS I made, 
When I called on Thee in my distres 
Hear me! though late. 1 come to pay these vow 
My God, all Thy waves have gone over me! 
( )ut of the deep waters I call to Th, 
Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down ! 
Lover and friend, hast Thou moved far from me ! 
Mine enemies, and they who hate my soul, 
Reproach me, savin--, Where is now thy God '■: 



COLUMBUS. 29 

Reveal Thyself, as in the days gone by, 
The health of my countenance, and my God ! 
Pardon and forgive all my transgressions, 
And blot out my iniquity, God ! 
O Son of Mary, advocate my cause ! 
Grant me, Holy Ghost, thy intercession ! 
Hear the prayers of our Holy Mother Church, 
And grant us Thy heavenly benediction ! 
O God, Thou, who turnest the hearts of kings, 
As rivers of the South, incline the hearts 
Of our king, and queen, to our petitions, 
That we may be restored in their favor ! 
Under Thy rod, give us resignation ; 
Drinking every bitter cup Thou givest, 
Saying, Father, Thy will, not mine, be done ! 
Nuns (in chorus). Amen! Amen! 
[Chant by nuns.] 



ACT IV.— SCENE I. 



The Alhambra — Banquet by Isabella in Honor 
of Columbus. 

[Isabella, Ladies, Knights, Columbus, Bishop, Professoi 
and Chancellor.] 

Is. In honor 
Of your presence, and in joy of seeing you, 
And hearing your defense, which sets at rest 
The charges made against your management 
Of our affairs, in our new colony, 
We give this banquet, and have invited 
These lords and ladies ; and we make request 
The utmost freedom be observed by all, 
In mutual interchange of sentiments ! 

Col. Most gracious Queen, 



30 COLUMBUS. 

You do put on me, new obligations 

Of gratitude and loyalty to you ! 

A friendless stranger, you did take me in, 

And fed and clothed me, and believed in me, 

And gave me voyage in a queenly way ! 

Amidst perils by sea, your words of trust, 

And worse perils, among false brethren, 

Have sustained me. and been my sweet reward ! 

Is. Columbus, thou hast proved, 
A knight, without fear, and without reproach! 

Disli. Our Queen, 
As you do grant us gracious freedom here, 
Pardon us if we our opinion give 
( )f this man's boast, his great discovery, 
That it was merely a great accident, 
With nn great merit thereto attachin 

Chan. So do the counsellors , 
The learned legal luminaries of your realm. 
Our gracious sovereign, argue, and agree ! 

Prof. Also, the most wise faculty 
( )f Salamanca University, 
Our laws of navigation, this man broke, 
And so made us the public laughing-stock ! 

Is. My Lords, 
If I had listened to your pedantry, 
England, or France, this honor would have had. 
I fear that you are close corporations, 
Holding the keys of knowledge, but neither 
Going in yourselves, or letting othei 
And the people, do'gs in tin- manger, call you. 
You do tithe your mint, anise and cummin, 
Hut neglect weightier matters of law; 
Justice, and mercy, and a growing faith ! 

Bisk. Any other man, 
Successfully could have made this voyage! 

Col. My 'Lords, 



COLUMBUS. 31 

Which of you can make this egg stand on end? 

It is an easy matter ; try it on ! 

[They each try, and give it up. Columbus with a blow- 
makes it stand. Queen and ladies clap their hands.] 
Col. My Lords, 

After I show you, you can do it now ! 

So my voyage, any man can follow ! 
Is. Another element, 

Gentlemen you have forgotten, courage ! 

To sail on seas, unknown to man before! 

Did not John of Portugal, send out a fleet, 

And it quick returned to port in terror? 

Columbus bears the crown of noble daring! 
Bish. I will not give way to him in courage! 
Chan. Nor is my bravery second to his ! 
Prof. I, too, count myself his peer in valor, 

To outride storms, face foes, or savage beasts ! 

[A lion roaring enters stage. The cry, "Defend the 
queen ;" arises. Her guard draw their swords. The 
bishop jumps over barrier into a wine vat. The chan- 
cellor and professor crawl under table, bursting their 
doublets. Columbus takes lion by mane and leads 
him out, amidst shouts of ladies, who retire. Fool' en- 
ters, pulls bishop out of the wine vat, dripping wet.] 
Foot. My lord Bishop, 

You have at last your life-wish granted you : 

By your god Bacchus, you have been baptized! 

[Pulls chancellor and professor from under table.] 

My Lords, lawyers and doctors, 

Stay with the stuff, when danger is at hand ; 

This is their history, in every land ! 
Bish. By all the devils in hell, 

I swear to be revenged, for this outrage, 

Put upon us by this Genoese! 
Chan. By the beard 

Of Ruy Diaz, the Cid, I swear with you, 



32 COLUMBUS. 

To avenge this insult! 

Prof. Great Caesar's ghost! I give to you my hand ! 

To do it, we will compass sea and land ! 

SCENE II. 
Court of Alhambra. 

[Enter Diego and Fernando, sons of Columbus, Pa 
to Queen, followed by rabble of citizens.] 

ist Cit. Ho! there! you sons 

Of that trickster, the Genoese pilot ! 

We are just 'scaped from his starvation lands! 

This sight, Castilians, makes my blood boil ! 

jit Cit. Yes, the>- fare finely here. 
When we poor fools, who their father followed. 
Came back to Spain, bankrupt in everything! 

jd Cit. We'll fill Le<>n and Castile, 
Brim full of our complaints; the king, ami queen, 
Shall hear all about this prince of humbug ! 

//// Cit. What a fraud, 
We the .sons of hidalgos have suffered ! 
Full-handed we went, empty we return 
From India, his boa-ted land of gold! 

jth Cit. I lis Great Khan, 
Of Candahar, is a naked sa 
While all his cities, ami great pal.. 
Are nothing more than barbarian huts, 
With poverty-stricken inhabitant-. 

[Diego and Fernando move on.] 

All Cits. Go in ! Go in ! 
We'll bring your father down from his high roost ! 
It was a cursed day, when he saw Spain ; 
And we will hoot him out of it a^ain ! 



COLUMBUS. 33 

SCENE III. 

The Alhambra. 

[Ferdinand and Isabella and ladies, knights, officers of 
government, etc.] 

Is. What's this I hear ! 
Ships from our colonies have just arrived, 
Cargoes of human beings, held as slaves ! 
And so they dare pollute our flag and soil, 
As if we were Moslems, and not Christians ! 
Arab slave-hunters, drivers, and merchants ! 
Christ died, and rose, to set the captives free! 
Mahound enslaves, and is the anti-Christ ! 
Ah ! me ! I fear the vials of God's wrath, 
Will be poured out on me and mine, 
And on my country, for this guiltiness ! 
While I am queen, slaves cannot breathe in Spain ! 
Take these poor captives to their home again ; 
And orders give, these outrages to cease ! 

Ferd. The time has come, 
To change our viceroy in the colonies ! 
Your pet, Columbus, has lost all control. 
The air is filled with murmurs and complaints, 
And I do advise that a commission, 
Be sent out to examine his affairs, 
And to remove him, if found culpable ! 

Is. I fear these commissions ; 
Indictments of eagles, by kites and crows ! 
Jackals, in judgment of lions, sitting! 
And no trial by jury, of one's peers ! . 
By one, Columbus was condemned, you know, 
Who, to all time, wrote themselves down as fools ! 
With all his faults, he stands out among men, 
Head and shoulders above the common herd ! 
But now, who is the man, you would appoint, 
To represent us in that distant court? 
5 



J4 I l 'I UMBUS. 

Ferd. I must confess, 
That I have none of your enthusiasm," 
In our viceroy, and his unbounded schemes ! 
Boabdilla, I have chosen, 
To bring order out of this distraction. 

Is. Rather, my Lord, 

[f I am any judge of human kind. 

This man will only add to the confusion ; 

As he goes prejudiced against Columbus, 

Representing his enemies at court! 

Nevertheless, my Lord, you may send him; 

p 
Hut all responsibility I disown; 

Praying only, that the end may not be, 

According to all my dark forebodings! 

S< ENE IV. 
S w Salvador, West [ndi 
[Enter Boabdilla, drums, etc., and Bartholomew.] 
Bo. Where is the commandant 

< If this port, that he dor- not salute us ' j 

Bart. My Lord. 
The Admiral, my brother, is absent ; 
What is the nature of your commission? 

Bo. With these letters patent, 
I come empowered to take possession 

< >t all offices of this colony; 

Who dare resist, traitors at once shall be! 

Bart. Columbus, is the only Lord I know, 
My brother, viceroy, and High Admiral. 
I have sent him word of your arrival, 
And he will haste, to hear your instructions, 
And readily, the word, lie will obey, 
You brine, resigning all authoritv ; 
For we are true, loyal sons of Spain ! 

Bo. What ! must I be challenged, 



COLUMBUS. 35 

And questioned by this underling ? 
I came to discipline this very thing. 
With this scholar, we'll open school at once, 
And teach our first lesson with these irons ! 
Seize him, my men ! let him wear these bracelets, 
And learn to reverence his superiors ! 
[Bartholomew is ironed, making no resistance. Colum- 
bus enters with followers.] 

Col. O my brother, 
Who has put this indignity on thee, 
I [ere in the seat of my authority? 
Who are these men ? What may their mission be, 
That they should so ungraciously appear ? 
Surely they come not from gentle Castile, 
The home of courtesy, and our good queen ! 

Bart. Alas ! my brother ! 
In the name of Spain, all this they have done ! 
This stranger shows strange papers for his acts, 
And I, making no resistance, yielded, 
Lest I be found fighting against our queen ! 

Col. Can this be true ? 
And has the king his covenant revoked ? 

Bo. Our ships are in the harbor. 
We come from Ferdinand, our king, direct ; 
And in his name, put thee under arrest ! 
Or will you dare to question our warrant? 
I am Boabdilla, Inquisitor, 
Surrender of your person, I demand! 

Col. My Lord, you do amaze me, 
That the king should send you out against me 
Armed, as though a traitor, or pirate. 
Certainly, you bring the accusations, 
Also the guilty specifications, 
Granting me speedy trial for the same, 
That I may answer to my enemies ? 

Bo. What ! parleying with words ! 



36 COLUMl 

Seize him! In fetters let them brothers be! 
[They iron him.] 

Captain, in irons, ship him at once to Spain ! 
Come on my men ! the booty now is ours! 
We are receivers of a rich estate. 
And like receivers we will loot the same, 
Then bravely home retire, with all our gain! 

[ Ex. Boabdilla and Co. 

Capt. ( ) my Admiral ! 
Forgive me, the sad duty left to me. 
To take thee, as a prisoner, on my ship ! 

Col. And will you take me 
Back to Spain, not killing, or betraying me? 5 

Capt. Rest assured, my Lord, 

Xo harm shall befall thee in my keeping. 
But these chains, let me release from th< 
It pains my soul t<> see thee in disgra< e, 
The greatest sailor in all history! 

( '<>/. Not ^<>. my Captain ! 
The king was pleased t<> put me in these bonds, 
And I will wear them, till he takes them off! 
I will leave these fetters to my children, 
As an heirloom, the guerdon ofproud Spain. 
To me, her viceroy, and Admiral, 
For founding her empire in this new world! 

My old companions, tried and true, farewell ! 
May a kinder fate than mine await you ! 
Captain, lead the way ! I will follow you ! 
Let us embark and leave this scene of shame ! 
[His comrades fall about him in tears.] 
All God be with vou. our Admiral ! Farewell ! 



COLUMBUS. 37 

SCENE V. 
The Alhambra. 

[Isabella and Ladies. Enter messengers.] 

ist Mess. Gracious Queen, all Spain is moved 
At sight of Columbus, your Admiral, in chains ! 

Is. In chains ? 
My God ! my God ! it cannot be in chains ? 
[Enter 2d messenger] 

2d Mess. Your majesty, 
I bring a letter from the Admiral, 
To Donna Juana de La Torre ! 

Is. O Donna Juana ! 
I envy you ! Has he forgotten me ? 
Or does he think I have forgotten him ? 
I die to hear the word he sends to thee ! 
[Lady J. opens and reads.] 

Is. And am I queen ? 
Or do I dream, that I am queen no more? 
[Enter 3d Messenger.] 

3d Mess. My Queen, Columbus has come, 
And all Grenada has gone out to meet him ! 
As a martyr, in his chains, they greet him ! 

A. In God's name, 
Strike off those chains, and proclaim his freedom! 
Into our presence, bring him here at once, 
That I may see this uncrowned king of Spain ! 
O ladies, help me turn this grief to joy ! 
[Enter officers and Columbus, who falls sobbing at feet 
of Queen, who lifts him up.] 

Is. O, Spain's great Admiral, 
An enemy hath done this to thee ! • 
But thou shalt have a refuge while I live ! 
Your base betrayal is our shame, not thine ! 
And Castile blushes for herself, not thee ! 
Thou shalt confessor to my people be, 



$8 COLUMBUS. 

Who now do penance, and thy pardon crave. 
Speak, Columbus! say, dost thou forgive us? 

Col. 0, my Queen, 
Thou art indeed a sun of righteousn< 
Far be the day that sees it set in night ! 
For it shall wear the sackcloth of the year! 
Let me not see it ; let me go before 
I hear Spain's orphans, and her widows, wail 
Their [sabelle, of peace and goodness, queen ' 

Is. God, I thank Th 
That in Christ our Lord, there i^ forgiven< 
I >r how could we poor sinners hope tor heaven ! 
() help us to make restitution, good, 
For all the wrongs, we have unwittingly 
Done to this Thy servant! Let us forget 
( )ur sorrow s, m joy of th [i >n ; 

Columbus free, and restored to favor! 
And yet like the last supper of our Lord, 
I am Impressed we meet for the last time; 
( ) may it bind us in closer sympathy! 



ACT V.— SCENE I. 

West Indii s. 

[Columbus and crew on shore, shipwrecked and starving. ] 

C 'c/. What have we not seen, 
And suffered, sailing this ill-starred voya 
Roldan and Boabdilla returning 
With their ill-got treasure, in the whirlwind, 
Went down in mid ocean, swift to judgment ! 
Little dreaming, we should hear their wailing, 
Whom the>- had robbed and sent away in chains! 
What need of revenge, since God avenge 

[Enter scouts.] 
What cheer, men, do you bring, to meet our needs? 



COLUMBUS. 39 

Leader. My Lord, there is great plenty, 
But the natives refuse their assistance, 
Thinking to starve us into easy prey ; 
And to our camp, their chiefs do follow us, 
To make mock of us, in our misery! 

[Enter chiefs and followers.] 

Col. Your White Father, 
Docs to a friendly council welcome you ! 
From your villages, when we are hungry, 
You drove these men away, empty-handed. 
Docs your Great Spirit teach your people so? 
Will it please Him, to treat the stranger so ? 

Chief. Our cars have heard 
What the white stranger says to our people. 
The white man's words are smoother than butter, 
But his double tongue stings like the adder! 
The white brother shakes his red brother's hand, 
And robs him of his children, wife and land! 

Col. There are bad white men, 
And you have bad Indians, as I see. 
Hut my children are hungry, and want food. 
( )ur boats are lost; and we were cast ashore, 
And thrown upon your hospitality. 
You have meat, and fruit, in great abundance. 
The Great Spirit has given these to you. 
He will be angry if you do not hear 
Our prayers, and from your great plenty feed us ! 

Chief. The Great Spirit knows the red man. 
The white stranger prays to another God. 
Let his Great Spirit help him, if He can. 
We will not give you meat, or fruit, or drink ! 

Col. Look at this sun ; 
Our Great Spirit will darken this great light, 
To show He hides his face from your people, 
Because our hunger, you do not pity ! 

Chief Our White Father is poor medicine man ; 



40 COLUMBUS. 

Only the night, can swallow up the sun ! 

Col. Look ! Look ! 
Under a cloud he is hiding his face! 
The dark night is coming at midday ! 
The Great Spirit will shine on you no more. 
[An eclipse takes place, and great darkness. Lights 

turned down. The Indians fall in tear at Columbus' 

feet, and ( "liief cries out] 

Chief. Save us, White- Father, from this darkness! 
Give us back the sun! We will give you food! 

Col. Quick! order your young men 
To bring my hungry children food, 
And the day again will shine upon you! 

Chief. \<un\ Run! young men, and maidens, quickly 
run ! 
And bring these strangers all the food we ha 
[They pom- in loaded with victuals, etc., and tin- dark- 
ness pas 

Col. Friends, tin- White Father knows the < ireat Spirit 
Better than you ! Go to your villag< 
Help us to live in plenty, while we stay, 
And the white strangers, will not harm your heads' 

Chief. Our white Father is great medicine man! 
Wh.» turns tin- day, to night, and night, t" day! 
Your children shall not hunger any m 
[Exeunt Indians, followed by fool eating fruit with great 

gusto.] 
Fall to ! Fall t.- ! and eat. my men ! 
The eclipse- I figured, God sent on time! 
It was the Bible ravens, bringing food, 
With wings that darkened the sweet hea\en's sun! 

a -hip, yonder in the moorii 
To-morrow my last voyage I will tak 
Returning a broken, and a shipwrecked man, 
Like a torn banner from many battl< 
Farewell my old comrades, by land and s< 



COLUMBUS. 41 

Farewell sweet shores, my eyes first beheld. 
Life's voyage o'er, here let my body rest, 
Like a weary child on its mother's breast ! 

SCENE II. 
The Alhambra. 

[Isabella dying, surrounded by her court, Ferdinand, 
Carlos, etc.] 
Is. My time is drawing near! 

Christ, help me set my house in order! 
The Lord has been very gracious to me! 

1 have lived to see dear Spain united ; 
False Islam driven out ; her sword broken ! 
That great providential man, Columbus, 
Gives a new world to Leon and Castile; 
Our western empire, and our treasure house! 
( K were he here, that I might reward him ! 
But our Great Admiral, I'll see no more! 
Gonsalvo, our Great Captain, leads our hosts, 
And all banners fly before our lions! 

Christ, I found Thy church a den of thieves; 
A public show of greed and indolence ; 

The shepherds robbed, and did not feed Thy flock ; 

1 have tried to bring them back to duty, 
Through Ximines, Thy faithful Cardinal! 
Remember, Lord, all my love for Zion, 
When at Thy judgment seat I shall appear ! 
Forgive me, if too zealous I have been ! 

My sorrows have taught me kings were human. 
Death enters all our royal palaces, 
And we have mourned the death of our darlings. 
O Ferdinand, thou knowest I love thee ! 
But thou dost not cherish thy Isabelle ! 
Thy great ambition leaves no room for love ! 
6 



4 j COLUMBUS. 

But O, let me be buried by thy side, 

Under the Alhambra's weeping willows, 

We who have lived these long years togeth< 

At my bed kneel down, my dead darling's boy! 

Carl<»s. my little grandson, my blessing 

On your head, I leave you with these kingdoms! 

Thou art the Emperor of Germany! 

King «>f Spain. N nd the Netherlands! 

The mighty Catholic one of Europe! 

As in you, all Christendom, I do touch, 

So may my praj me to pass, that all wars 

May cease between Christian nations, 

And that their armies, make a pi 1 grin 

To the Holy Sepulchre, and breaking 

There the all-devouring sword of [slam, 

Bury their swords in peace for Jesus 

Who came t<« bring peace and good will t«» nun ! 

My children! < > my children! gone from me, 

To Heaven, leaving my poor heart broken, 

irry me to the many mansions, 
In our Father's house, where you are waitir 
( ). Mary, Queen, Mother of our dear Lord, 
( )n thy sweet bosom, let me weary n 
Let me hear th< f Spain's sweet singer, 

The Virgin Mother sang her child t< 

| •• 1 Inly Angels and blest " is sung.] 

SONG OF MARY. 



BY LOPE DK T 



Holy Angels and bl< weep, 

Hold their bran i st ; my B 

Cho— Hush : Hush ! Hush ! hush ! 
My I A.-ep. 

And ye Bethlehem palm trees, as stormy winds rush. 
In tempest and fury, your angry noise hush ' 



COLUMBUS. 43 

Move gently ! move gently ; restrain your wild sweep ! 
Hold your branches at rest ! my Babe is asleep ! 
Cho.— 

My Babe all divine, with earth sorrows opprest, 
Seeks in slumber, an instant, His grievings to rest. 
He slumbers, He slumbers. O hush, then, and keep 
Your branches all still ; my Babe is asleep ! 
Cho.— 

Wild blasts wheel around Him a pitiless storm ! 
And ye see how in vain I would shelter His form ! 
Holy Angels, and blest ! as o'er me ye sweep, 
Hold these branches at rest ! my Babe is asleep ! 
Cho.— 



usband, good night! Child, loved ones, all, Good 
night ! 

[She dies, amid sobs of friends and attendants.] 



SCENE III, 

The Alhambra. 

[Bod)' of Isabella lying in state. Dirges and requiems 
played. Enter soldiers, muffled drum, reversed arms, 
carrying Castile's banner.] 

Capt. Halt! O Queen, thou hast heard Death's voice 
to halt, 
And thy banner, never lowered, is furled here. 

[Wraps colors about her body.] 
Hail and farewell ! our brave Queen and sister. [Ex. 
[Enter Nuns and Sisters of Charity, chanting.] 
Cho. — Lovely in life, lovely still in death, 
Thou hast taught us both how to live and die ! 
Night and day, we will pray for thy soul's repose. 

[Exeunt. 
[Enter orphans and widows, with garlands, and laying 
them on her bier.] 



44 COLUMBUS. 

Cho. — ( ) our mother, we arc left desolate! 
Our tears shall make flowers blossom on thy grave. 

[Exeunt. 

ENE [V. 

Valladolid — Chamber. 

[Columbus dying. Bartholomew, Di< joand Fernando.] 

c )>/. Too late ! too 
Shipwrecks and storms have delayed our coming, 
And our sweet queen, our only friend, is gone ! 
The selfish Ferdinand, breaking .ill v< 
Denies his covenant, and all our rights! 
Vet old, and broken as I am. again, 
I would sail forth from Spain, to extend 
His empire and riches in the great \\ 
Alas! he leaves me old, and forsaken. 

Like our wrecked vessels, on the coral r< 

Breaking themselves to p i the rocks! 

My sons, arc you both h< 

5] ak, Father, we arc h 
Col. Diego and Fernando, hear my words! 
I Leave you heirs to all the revenues, 
( if iii_\- covenant with the queen and kin 
To this claim, abate not jot. or tittle ! 
When I am dead. Spain's conscience will awake; 
She will grant you, what she denied your father. 
Let all my just debts he paid. To the Jew 
( )f Lisbon, who befriended me. the loan 
Return with interest, and my thanks. God bles> him ! 
In Genoa's bank, my native city, 
Yearly deposit. I would have you make. 
Until a royal fund accumulates. 
To lead the pilgrimage of Christian swords, 
The Holy Sepulchre, to deliver, 



COLUMBUS. 45 

And the world's crusade against Mahomet ! 

Will you observe these words of mine and do them? 
Diego and Fer. O our father, these your dying words, 

With God's grace, we will keep, and obey them ! 
Col. Farewell, my boys ! 

The blessing of your father, attend you ! 

Bartholomew, my brother, art thou here ? 
Bart. I am, my Lord, and brother, 

And to the world's end I will follow thee! 
Col. Draw near me, 

For my eyes fail me, and the night comes on ! 

l'h'. u know est, from a child, visions and dreams, 

1 lave visited me strangely, all my life ; 

Voices of the night, in my darkest hours, 

Have urged me on with superhuman zeal, 

Marking me out at once my destiny! 

Above the voices of the battle-field, 

I he howling tempests, or the roaring waves, 

These voices called, and I heard nothing else ! 

So in His Holy Book, Godspake to men, 

Yesterday ! To-day ! Forever ! God ! 

Old men, see visions, young men, dream dreams ! 

Listen ! last night this vision came to me ! 

The voice of other days spake thus to me : 

" Columbus, rest ! thou hast sailed thy last sail ! 

Spain, that disowns thee, shall not keep thy grave ! 

Thy own great West shall claim thy sepulchre ! 

Thy holy thought, of the Holy Sepulchre, 

Is not to die, but blazing from the West, 

Shall lead the Christian world on pilgrimage ! 

Thy Admiral's sword, shall be Islam's death, 

And knight in one great Christian brotherhood, 

All kingdoms, that do crown, Christ, King of Kings ! 

Jerusalem, city of the great King, 

Mother of the whole earth, again shall be!" 

The voice ceased, and silently passed away. 






COLUMBUS. 



Then, wonder of wonders, this vision came: 
A banner of stars, shone out of the W 
With the red of the ind blue of heaven, 

And the white of her blood-washed choristers! 
And the flags of all nations gathered round, 
And they marched to the city of David, 
And twined themselves at the tomb of Christ ! 
It passed; the beautiful vision ceased; 
Bartholomew! 1 nando! 

Believing this vision, I die- in 
Let my Admiral's -word, gift of the queen, 
laid on my tomb, till that day shall com 

Christ! when' they nailed Thee to the cruel tree, 

Thy sad face, from Jerusalem they turned. 

And the western sun, looked on Thy dyii 

Giving promise of Thy r< on ! 

So let my dying 'k to the \\ 

Slu- has been kinder to me, than the East! 

I leave my body and my sword t<. her, 

The guardian of my name and memory! 

Brother, the night is coming! It grows eld: 

Hark ! the 1 he west brightens ! 

The -tar- come out ! the banner of the sta 

And the flag of Isabella greets it ! 

Give me my sword! I'm Admiral ..nee more' [Di< 

- 1 \1. V. 

1 I \\ \v\. 

[Tomb of Columbus, with In- sword on it. Drum- and 
trumpets beat, band- playing national airs. A color- 
bearer leap- <-n the si -nencan flag, wav- 
ing Columbus' sword and shouting.] 
C. B. The West ! Hie W olumbia! Columbia ! 

Who, wh«> will join our pilgrima 

1 o Jerusalem, the I Inly City ? 



COLUMBUS. 47 

[Band plays. Another color-bearer with Spain's flag 
leaps in shouting.] 
2d C. B. Santiago ! Santiago ! Spain ! Spain ! 
Isabella's flag will join the crusade ! 

[Music. Another color-bearer enters and shouts.] 
jd C. />. England ! England ! and St. George ! 
[Music. Another color-bearer enters and shouts.] 

-f.tli C. B. Germany ! German}- ! The Fatherland ! The 
Fatherland ! 

[Band plays, and color-bearers in ' turn for France, 
Italy, Russia, Austria, Mexico, Chili, Denmark, Swe- 
den, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Peru, Bo- 
livia, Brazil, Argentine Republic and other Christian 
nations leap on the stage, form in line, kneel down, 
arise, wave their banners and sh#ut.] 
All. Rally to our holy pilgrimage ! On ! 

( )n ! to Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! 

Down with Mahomet, at Jerusalem ! 

Constantinople and Mecca ! Down! Down! 

With the false prophet of the sword ! God wills it ! 

God wills it ! Amen ! Amen ! and Amen ! 



[Finis.] 



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